Question Number: 31458

Law 11 - Offside 4/16/2017

RE: Rec Adult

Russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

PIOP involved in a goal ?

In the Stoke v Hull match this weekend, the Hull goal scored looked like it may have had a PIOP (No.24) become involved in the play that lead to the gaol.

In the scramble that was the lead up to the Hull goal, the ball was played across the box when it fell to a scrambled attempt to shoot by a Hull player, at the same time as a scrambled attempt to defend the ball by a Stoke player. The ball eventually bounces through to Maguire from Hull to shoot and score.

At the time of the scramble immediately before the ball made it to Maguire, a Hull Player in an offside position comes back to attempt to win the ball, and although he does not win the ball he dose definitely intend to get to the ball, and this looks to potentially have impeded a stoke defender.

Very hard to tell who touched the ball in the scramble immediately beforehand, however, if we assume it was the Hull player, is there enough involvement from the PIOP to justify cancelling out the goal.

http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2017/04/15/stoke-city-vs-hull-city-highlights-2/

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
There would be doubt in the ARs view as to who last played the ball in the challenge between the Stoke and Hull players. There is also doubt about whether the PIOP actually challenges an opponent for the ball or not. On balance I would say no offside. It was certainly not obvious and little onfield questioning of the decision

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Russell,
there is possible interference but was it actualized in the mindset of the AR or CR is doubtful. Given there was no real outcry things best left as is! If the defender had actually run into the PIOP then a more clear case for interference
Cheers